Most people would give up on their dreams after being turned away not once, but twice. But West Virginia Universitypharmacy student Justin Booth is not like most people.

For me, the third times a charm,he joked.In that last year, I was dead set that I was going to do pharmacy.

His persistence paid off.

Admission is quite competitive, and a lot of folks give up when theyre not admitted the first time,said Clarke Ridgway, assistant dean of student services at the School of Pharmacy.Instead, Justin would come and seek advice on how he could improve his chance for admission, and even better, he actually followed through with it.

Booth is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. The 25-year-old was born with foreshortened arms and without thumbs as a result of Holt-Oram syndrome, a genetic disorder.

It just slows me down to where I dont finish things as fast as other classmates,he said.

He knew the School of Pharmacys lab-based curriculum would pose obstacles even larger than the admissions process.

I knew it was going to happen because Ive lived with this my whole life,he said.I had to look outside the box and find a new way to do things.

With the help of School of Pharmacy faculty and staff, an occupational therapist built special equipment for him to perform hands-on lab tasks.

As far as compounding creams, lotions, suppositories and IVs, it was difficult not only to mix it, but to put it in jars or tubes,Booth said.

The specially built equipment, which Booth refers to asa hodgepodge of materials from Lowes,holds vials to allow him free use of his hands.

On that first day of lab, I pulled the lab professor Mr. McIntire aside and told him that I can do everything everyone else can; it just might take me a little longer,he said.I might look like Im struggling, but just be patient with me.

Cantis not in Booths vocabulary.

At one point, my parents thought Id have to wear Velcro shoes all of my life,he said,but I kept at it and kept at it, and finally, I learned to tie my shoes.

He applied that same can-do approach to his schoolwork and ended up with a perfect score on his lab technique, which involved using syringes to administer insulin shots.

Ridgway said Booths classroom success has been a lesson to his fellow students.

I think the students have seen that physical impairments are not a barrier to providing good patient care,Ridgway said.A sense of optimism and a willingness to work hard can help you overcome obstacles in pursuing a professional career.

Youve got to be persistent,Booth said.If not, then the first trial that comes your way, youll want to give up not just in school, but in life.

He refers to advice his uncle, a father figure and motivator in his life, gave him when he began his first pharmacy intern rotation:My first pharmacy job was in a store that did 300-400 scripts (prescriptions) a day, and I thought, �€~Youre throwing me to the wolves,Booth said, laughing.But my uncle said, �€~Dont think about the 50 or so that you have to do; just focus on one at a time.

It was that advice that has helped the Logan County native on his 10 different rotations.

I have a wonderful support system at home, I have faith in God, and the School of Pharmacy embraced me with open arms,Booth said.If not for that, Id have never gone from doing nothing with my life to graduating pharmacy school. That support system has made the difference.

Booth said his support system includes everyone from professors and classmates to his friends from his residence hall days.

The dorms were the best environment because they forced me out of my shell,said Booth, whose graduating class at Chapmanvilles First Baptist Christian School consisted of no more than 10 students.

At first, it was kind of a culture shock for me,Booth said.But living in the dorms forced me to meet new people and forced people to see how I operate and that I didnt need a pity party. I can do things on my own.

After graduating, Booth hopes to continue working in southern West Virginia, where he has completed the majority of his rotations, but he says that Morgantown will always hold a special place in his heart.

Every professor and student has been nice and considerate,he said.I dont see Holt-Oram syndrome as a problem, but others may see it as a hardship. The fact that people at WVU treat me no differently shows me that there are still good people in the world.